Four investors have submitted binding bids in a tender for a 25-year concession contract to operate Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport. The successful bidder will finance, maintain and manage the infrastructure of the airport and perform all operations.

As reported on this platform, the tender process was launched by the government of Serbia in February 2017. Following interest in the project being shown by 27 firms, the government extended the deadline to submit bids four times. A shortlist was eventually announced in July. 

Following yet more extensions, binding bids have been submitted by:

•  Meridiam Eastern Europe Investments, Zurich Airport AG and Eiffage
• GMR Infrastructure Limited and Terna
• Incheon International Airport Corporation,  ICTAS Concessions, and VTB Capital Infrastructure
• Vinci Airports

One other consortium was included in the government's shortlist. It comprised Hainan Air Travel Service, HNA and China National Aero Technology.

The government have announced that they intend to make a preliminary decision on the bids by December 25. The winner of the tender will pay between EUR350 million (US$411.3 million) and EUR450 million to the state budget upon being selected.

The Serbian government owns 83.1% of Aerodrom Nikola Tesla, the operator of Belgrade airport. The company's net profit dropped to 3.2 billion dinars (US$31.5 million) in 2016, from 3.3 billion dinars in the previous year.